Woman who took 1-year-old in Novaliches, arrested; baby still missing

· Police successfully arrested a 20-year-old street dweller in Quezon City in connection with the disappearance of a one-year-and-seven-month-old girl, Kiana Jane, on December 10

· Despite the arrest of the primary suspect, authorities and the devastated parents are still frantically searching for Kiana Jane, whose whereabouts remain unknown

· The suspect gained the parents' trust by offering to buy them dinner outside a convenience store, and then allegedly left with the infant after being briefly entrusted with her care

· Kiana Jane's father, Melvin Lorejas, made a heart-wrenching public appeal for anyone who spots his daughter to immediately contact their family or the nearest police station

The anxious wait for a Novaliches family continues, even after a key development in the case of their missing infant daughter.

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Police officials have confirmed the arrest of a 20-year-old female street dweller linked to the alleged kidnapping of one-year-and-seven-month-old Kiana Jane in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City, last December 10.

However, the arrest has provided little comfort, as the child remains unfound.

Kiana Jane’s father, Melvin Lorejas, recounted the heartbreaking circumstances that led to his daughter’s disappearance.

Lorejas and his wife were preparing dinner outside a convenience store when the suspect approached them, offering to treat them to a meal.

“Syempre bilang menos gastos, pumayag kami,” Lorejas told the media. “Siguro mga 10 minutes hindi po siya bumalik kinabahan na kami.”

Surveillance footage taken shortly before 6:00 p.m. corroborated the family’s account, showing the female suspect leaving the convenience store while carrying the infant.

According to Lt. Col. Michael John Villanueva, station commander of the Novaliches Police, their investigation revealed a semblance of trust between the parents and the suspect.

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“Lumalabas sa investigation namin na yung minor eh parang naipagkatiwala sa suspek. Ang paalam kasi ng suspek ay bibili lang ng pagkain so pumayag naman parents after a while napansin nila na hindi na bumalik yung bata,” Villanueva explained.

Police tracked down the suspect to the same convenience store on Friday, December 12, where they successfully made the arrest. Shockingly, the infant was not with her.

During the investigation, police learned that the suspect had allegedly been seen begging for money with the child in the days following the disappearance.

When questioned, the suspect offered a weak defense, claiming she took the child because she "felt pity" for her. The suspect is now facing serious charges of child @buse and kidnapping.

Despite the arrest, the primary focus remains locating Kiana Jane. The police have contacted the local barangay to intensify search operations and community alerts.

Melvin Lorejas, his voice filled with despair, made an emotional appeal to the public. “Sa mga makakapanood, baka po makita niyo yung anak ko, pagbigay alam niyo naman po kaagad samin. May mga iniwan po kaming ano para ma contact kami pakibigay alam agad samin kasi hindi na namin alam gagawin,” kanyang apela.

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Authorities urge anyone who has seen Kiana Jane to immediately contact the nearest police station or call the Lorejas couple directly at 0912-939-01-38. The nation holds its breath, hoping for the safe and swift return of the missing infant.

In other news, a female worker, aged 28, sustained a serious injury when her left arm was cruelly caught in the rollers of a large, industrial dough machine at a bakery in Navotas City. The victim endured the agonizing entrapment for almost sixty minutes, leading neighbors to make frantic attempts to manually take apart the machinery. The Special Rescue Force of the Navotas Fire Station intervened, utilizing specific, non-damaging extrication tools to free the jammed roller pin in under five minutes. While the woman is medically recovering from swelling, her brother reported that the victim lost consciousness during the ordeal and is suffering from significant emotional trauma.

Still in other news, a 14-year-old boy tragically succumbed to stab wounds allegedly inflicted by his own uncle in San Carlos City on December 14. Immediately following the attack, the suspect used gasoline to set their family residence ablaze and took his own life inside the burning structure. After fire personnel successfully extinguished the extensive blaze, the suspect's remains were discovered on the second floor of the destroyed home. Investigators suggested that the man’s alleged violent behavior and recent struggles with emotional distress are being considered as potential causes for the shocking murder-suic1de.

Source: KAMI.com.gh